Premise

James Jones' classic novel had two TV adaptations: a three-part 1979 miniseries and a 1980 series, both on NBC. The miniseries held true to the sprawling saga of the pre-WWII Army, while the series picked up where the book ended, focusing on the characters' personal problems. Many of the mini's cast returned, with one notable exception: Natalie Wood was replaced by Barbara Hershey in the role of Karen Holmes.